Principle Investigators: Susan Geerthuis, University of Auckland, Helen Hayes, University of Melbourne and Mike Osborne, University of Glasgow

Funders: Universitas 21

Funding: $US12,500

Duration: 1/8/09 - 31/7/11

Summary: The Universities of Auckland, Glasgow and Melbourne have been funded by the Universitas network to establish an interest group of academics within the fields of Lifelong Learning, Regional Development and cognate disciplines to share strategic vision, best practice and engage in benchmarking activities. The focus of the project is on effective knowledge transfer, 3rd mission activities, and other engagements that contribute to regional development and to the success of these research intensive institutions. The work builds on the work of PASCAL's PURE project. In addition to these universities, interest in involvement has already been expressed by the University of British Columbia, Lund University and the University of Queensland, all of whom were involved in the first seminar for this group hosted by the University of Melbourne in March 2010.

Priority areas for the interest group have been identified as:

1. Structures and management – There is a need to identify the structures and processes that most effectively drive and support high impact engagement activities within prestigious universities.
2. Assessing the value of regional engagement and collaboration through indicators, benchmarks – Guidance on assessing partnerships and projects are needed to ensure that the costs and benefits of engagement can be determined and informed choices made by universities.
3. Stimulating, funding and delivering major research initiatives through regional partnerships. Benchmarking, tools and guidance are needed on the most effective means of engaging with regions to advance ambitious research agenda.
4. The student experience – A broader understanding is required of ways to engage with regions with the purpose of enhancing the learning experience of students, stimulating higher level learning and developing research skills.

Outputs: These priorities will be addressed through ongoing bilateral and multilateral collaborations with all members of U21, since much can be done through effective sharing of information and exchange of practice. Members of the group will also seek external funding which will accelerate the pace and enhance the rigour of the work.

Case studies of exemplar major disciplines (e.g. medicine and health sciences), benchmarking exercises, best practice development, qualitative and quantitative investigations, audits and reviews could all contribute to addressing the priority areas and so develop innovation and excellence.

Progress will be disseminated and stimulated through:

• The development of publications, guidance, tools and mapping of for all U21 institutions
• Virtual seminars focuses on specific interest areas within external engagement
• A paper reviewing the role of regional engagement across U21

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